Monday

Perfect piece of peace

When I was browsing Covent Garden market a few weeks ago, I came across a market stall that had one of those piles of jewellery you can just dig through until you find something worthwhile, and then you pay £3 for your efforts.

Unusually, I found a little gem in the shape of a tiny gold chain with a peace sign pendant. My inner hippy was awakened and I was about to buy it, but alas I had no cash on me and by the time I came back the stall was closed.

Thanks to the internet however I have managed to find a replacement for my affections from Dogeared - albeit for 10 times the price.

I have to admit that I have always been in love with Dogeared and their gorgeous and delicate designs. I'm not a believer in all the spiritual nonsense that comes with them, but as they have awakened the shopping devil within, I plan to follow the path to Karma, realisation and fashion nirvana.

Friday

Be still my beating heart

This is Peggy, she costs £165 and you can find her at the wonderful shop that is Mimi Berry. This is a hot-off-the-press story as she only came out today (thus the crude photo), and it took me all of 30 seconds to fall in love with her. Equal parts minimal and squishy (what else does one need from a satchel?), I can already picture myself wearing it for all my London jaunts. For the more avant garde amongst you she is also available in green and red. No highstreet equivalent could even begin to compare.

Thursday

Label love

What would I give to have that scarf? Or that bag... I snapped this label lover on the train home a few weeks ago, but I had completely forgotten about it. This woman-of-a-certain age is definitely not lacking in funds - that or she's seriously overdrawn. If you have a keen eye, you might notice that the cuffs on her jumper say 'Chanel', I'm also sure that up her sleeve is a very expensive watch.

Its unusual that you see someone over 50 who indulges in such unadulterated label love, but in these crunchy times, why not make everyone jealous by flaunting it?

(Although just in case she doesn't want internet (semi) fame I thought I'd give her a little anonymity...)

Tuesday

Um, no.


Link
I was reading a piece in NYMag.com which picks out the key trends that we shall all be wearing over the next four months. Their list is slightly predictable, with its studs, bangles, sequins and here's the shocker - plaid (checked shirts for those of us who aren't fluent in American fashion lingo). Since when haven't we worn these things?

But what really gave me a start is that top of their list of trends for the summer are Lennon-style sunglasses.

No, no, no...

Yes, Mary-Kate just about pulls the look off with her tiny little face, but I think she has definitely made better fashion choices. We have a joke pair at home, and after trying them on I still don't see how this will be the next big eyewear trend. But since when does everyone have to get fashion? We are simply obliged to acknowledge it, and either copy or move on.

Thoughts?

(Above Urban Outfitters £4.99 - Below All Saints £40)

Not sure why...



I know that everyone has already been there, done that and gotten the proverbial t-shirt when it comes to these Melissa shoes, but my interest has been piqued today for no reason whatsoever. Whilst looking through all the fab things that will be going into various summer sales in a few weeks, I have disappointingly found out that these shall not be included in any reductions anywhere. Most probably because at £75 they're not too badly priced (for Westwood) in the first place.

If I actually get to go anywhere on holiday i'll probably buy them and proudly hot-step in the most expensive jelly sandals for miles around.

Monday

A little bit of narcissism goes a long way...


Was quite pleased with how I looked today so I thought I'd take a snap... Yes it's in the toilet mirror at work - complete with 70s tiling and flooring, how very retro!

Sunday

Traditional voting dress


Above we have the traditional dress of the Bavarian Highlanders who like to make an effort to vote. Its probably a good thing that we don't have the same tradition over here, as judging by the new-found popularity of the BNP, some English voters would have turned up in full on SS uniforms...

A foray into vintage...

I know all the cool kids and true fashionistas wear vintage, in terms of style it's a sign of an ability to look backwards in order to move forwards (or some other such nonsense). Vintage clothes are a complete mystery to me, they smell funny, they're all polyester and leave a film of dust on your hands after touching them.

Whilst frequenting an all-you-can-cram-in-a-bag-for-a-tenner vintage sale at the East End Thrift Store, I was sorely disappointed with the piles of dusty, smelly clothes on offer. A room piled high with junk not even the store could sell, the smell of B.O was overpowering. Leaving the sale empty handed, I was pleased to discover a very nice store downstairs.

Other girls I spied had found what can only be classed as treasures, things that looked amazing without needing any alterations at all. Polka-dot dresses, denim shorts, mini jumpsuits and not one of them was itching from the secondhandness. I was inspired to dig around, something I often can't be bothered to do, and I found the little gem above. With only two strange looking stains and boasting the usual 100% polyester on the label it felt like wallpaper, but looked very cute. At only £15 I almost regret not buying it. Perhaps you get used to the itchy sweatiness after a while...

Thursday

My next challenge...


They retail at £20 at Kabiri, which is frankly crazy as I can get all the stuff for them on ebay for about £5! Watch this space...

Wednesday

Creative, moi?


This is me trying my hand at jewellery making. Not the most complex of processes I know, but I'm pretty pleased with the results nonetheless. Commissions welcome...

(I've also discovered i'm not too bad at this still life photography lark, perhaps another change in career is on the cards...)

Tuesday

One-stop Luella

Link

So Luella is now online. I received the email this afternoon and immediately rushed to have a look. It is a veritable feast of Ms Bartley's offerings, with helpful categories like "Psychedelic Wonderland" and "Wonky Factor" which display the beautiful oddities of her collection.

The Brook Street store in a nutshell, a huge amount of her SS09 looks are available to buy, the only exception being the shoes.There's no sale rail option yet, and as expected it is all very expensive, but I'm sure it will draw many an admirer to fork over £400 for a skirt.

One thing I've noticed, as her popularity grows, the clothes are becoming more and more unwearable. She is playing away from classic pieces, a route which many designers are taking at the moment, and dancing right into the hands (and wardrobes) of many a celebutante-come-cool-London-scene-kid. And if her Autumn looks are anything to go by, its going to carry on like this for the forseeable future (Thigh-high golden boots anyone?). But there is no denying that her creations are breathtakingly beautiful, if only to be marveled at and coveted from the pages of a magazine.

Log on, admire and by all means buy the extremely beautiful "Polly" dress (above), but don't expect to find something that lasts more than a season - fashion is fleeting daaarhling, and none so fleeting as Luella.

Sneak Peak

Whilst having a look at New Look's campaign images for AW09, I have to say I was taken with this little number. Almost Sonia Rykiel-esque in its cute kookiness, I would join a waiting list for that top. Striking just the right balance between cutesy and sexy the whole get-up screams French chic, not bad for the British high street...

Double Take

Above, Isaac Mizrahi neon mesh corseted bodysuits, below River Island jumping on the bandwagon. If you're keen for the sculpting eye-popping real deal - take it from me, I saw them in person when writing for a certain website, they're amazing - it will take a mere £170 to call one your own.

If however, you're more of a £9.99 kind of girl, the River Island versions also claim to have body-sculpting properties. Although if your body does need said sculpting, I'd advise staying as far away as possible from Lycra altogether.

Monday

Fashion balls

I bought these lovelies at a French Connection sample sale on Sunday for a mere £10 (reduced from £35!). Although they look as though they are sprayed with black paint, it is in fact a wonderful snake-print pattern. A little chavvy? Perhaps. A little too wannabe "cool" Londoner? Almost definitely. Enough cojones to wear them in public? The jury is still out on that one....

Where's Wally



Where's Wally's style is undeniably iconic, although not usually that coveted. Wally (or Waldo if you're an American) was the pioneer in geek chic, with his football-fan meets French tourist look, complete with horn-rimmed glasses and bobble hat.

Recently I have seen quite a few people inspired by his colour choices, at first I thought it was just one very odd-dressing arty type, but apparently Wally chic transcends all fashion classes when it comes to his socks. Now you can't actually see them in his original outfit, but I'm almost sure that he wears something resembling the above under his jeans.

I have observed quite a few young men wearing them over the past few weeks (And none of them were going to football practice as far as I could see). As they are available at American Apparel for £8 it stands to reason that if they say its ok to wear them, then how can anybody say otherwise? Who says that knee-high socks with shorts is only for girls?

Well actually I'd hazard quite a few people... but three cheers for bizarrely inspired fashion.

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